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Class, PR 4 40 3. 
Rnnk ,G 155A.fi 



PRESENTED BY 



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%0 A N T I P E, 



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AND OTHER POEMS. 



D. T. CALHOUN. 






PROVOST & CO., 
36, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. 

1871. 



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?$** 



cfl 



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2,6 ft* 




GIFT 
BERTRAM SMITH 

OCT 2 4 1933 



Printed by Watson and Hazell, London and Aylesbury. 



CO NT E NTS. 



FIRST PART. 

PAGE 

A maid's may-song ■ . .3 

TO IANTHE . . ... . . .4 

CECILIA TRAPASSATA . . . . . .5 

ODE I. . 7 

THE COQUETTE 8 

DESPAIR . . .IO 

ODE II II 

LEILA'S EYES . .12 

AN INVOCATION TO LOVE. 1 3 

THE LITTLE RIVALS 1 4 

SECOND PART. 

ODE III 17 

THE LITTLE ROSE 19 

ABSENCE . . . 20 

A SONG TO MY LADY . . . . . .21 

LEILA . 22 

LEILA'S LIPS 23 



IV CONTENTS. 

THIRD PART. 

PAGE 

THE ROSEBUD AND THE DAISY . . . . 2J 

A SUMMER SONG 29 

ODE IV 3 1 

A WINTER SONG • 3 2 

LEILA'S GRACES 33 

ODE V 35 

ILLUSIONS PERDUES 37 

ODE VI 38 

SYMPATHY 4° 

THE VISION OF DEATH 4 1 

TO PSYCHE 6l 

SON^G TO FLORA 63 

ODE VII 65 

TO LEILA -67 

ODE VIII 69 

A MAID'S SORROW 7 1 



FOURTH PART. 

I FUGITIVI 75 

FRAGMENTS 77 

REMEMBRANCE 7$ 

TO FLORA 82 



FIFTH PART. 

ANTIOPE ..87 



CONTENTS. V 

SIXTH AND LAST PART. 

PAGE 

naiad's song . . Ill 

LINDOR TO ANTHEA 112 

VARIA.— FABLES. 



THE THREE KINGS . 








113 


THE DEPOSIT 








114 


IN THOSE DAYS 








115 


THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ASS 








Il6 
Il8 




DESPAIR 








II 9 


"DANTE AT VERONA." 








I20 


SONG 








121 


SONNET . . 








122 


EVENING ..... 








123 


A FRAGMENT 








124 


TO ANTHEA .... 








126 


SONNET 








127 


LEILA 








. 128 


A NYMPH'S SONG . ' . 








. I29 



Jmt fart. 



A MAID'S MAY-SONG. 



Oh ! my young heart it glows 
Like the dew-glimmering rose 

In the dawn's pale ray? 
For the flowers gaily spring 
And the birds sweetly sing 

Their first songs to May. 

ii. 

Bright lilies charm my eye, 
And the lark's song on high 

Is sweet to my ear; 
For I am young and gay 
And my heart hath its May 

Like the new year. 



TO IANTHK* 



i. 
My soul is as a bower of lilies 

Where thou dost dwell like a fond snowy dove, 
And my heart all the day like a censor 

Brightly burns with the sweets of thy love. 

ii. 

My memory is as a spring blossom 
Where thy love like a sunbeam reposes, 

And round thy past smiles play her fancies 
Like zephyrs that dally o'er roses. 

in. 
The lilies, like a flock of snowy kine 

Are milked by the bees all the day, 
Yet thy love is more sweet than the honey 

Borne from their white udders away. 

IV. 

I love thee far more than these roses 

I scatter like stars over thee ; 
For whilst their bloom dies away with the summer, 

Thy love ever blossoms for me. 

* To be understood as synonymous for " Poesy." 



CECILIA TRAPASSATA. 



I know the grove where maidens twine 
Their sunny locks with flowers 

When gaily flown with love and wine 
They sigh for happy hours. 

ii. 
I know where lintwhites tune their throats 

So sweetly to the lyre, 
The soul that lives upon their notes 

Would in their fall expire. 

in. 

Yet let me fly that flowery grove 
With its haunts so bright and fair, 

Where I so often seek my love 
Yet never find her there. 

IV. 

And oh ! let happier hearts rejoice 
In the sweet songs of the year, 

Since every note recalls a voice 
That I must never hear. 



But let me climb some rugged height 

That mantles o'er the sea, 
Where wild winds raving day and night 

May hymn a dirge to me. 

VI. 

Or let me seek some weird cave 

Where I may lie and weep 
Until my tears shall dig my grave 

And death become my sleep. 



O D E I. 



Leila saw a blossom shine 
Like a snowdrop on the vine, 
And lithe to wear it for a gem 
She plucked it from the ripening stem. 
" Pretty fondling," then she said, 
" Lay thy little snowy head 
On this bosom, that shall be 
A cradle henceforth unto thee." 
" Ah fondly sweet," was the reply, 
" Upon thy billowy breast to lie ; 
Yet, love, the bliss were trebly mine 
If thou hadst left me on the vine, 
Unheedful of thy luscious rape 
Till I had seasoned to a grape, 
For, fairest, then I had been prest 
To thy sweet lip, and not thy breast 



THE COQUETTE. 



Winsome light a summer day 
Leila tripped the flowery lea, 

Seeking the love of all the gay 
And bright things she did see. 



ii. 



The crystal heaven that did drip 

A silvery shower, 
Let fall a dew-drop on her lip, 

Thinking it a flower. 



in. 



And from the sun's resplendent ray 
Gay moths and golden flies 

Did flit to gambol and to play 
In the bright beams of her eyes. 



9 

IV. 



And, quoth I, looking on her there 
Whilst tears my eyes did blind, 

" How can a maiden be so fair 
And yet thus so unkind ? 



" For love now lightly doth she seek 

Over the flowery lea, 
Yet when, alas ! of love I speak 

She turns and flies from me." 



10 



DESPAIR, 



Oh that I were yon dew-drop bright 

Upon the spray, 
And death the sunbeam in whose light 

It melts away ! 



ii. 



Through dateless cycles death would be 

My cherished mate, 
Since he so kindly set me free 

From that I hate ; 



in. 



For what the world where others sigh 

Eternal bliss, 
I'd ask it not, if only I 

Could fly from this. 



ODE II. 



Around the silvery goblet twine 
The lily and the eglantine, 
And the liquid ruby pour 
Within until it sparkles o'er. 
Why ? I mean to pass the night 
In joyous revel and delight, 
And in orient balm or hue 
I know no flowers like these two, 
Whilst I prize this nectar o'er 
The snowy tulip's sparkling store 
Or the honey-dew that drips 
In kisses from a maiden's lips. 



12 



LEILA'S EYES. 




A wieftm^jGttiDid m/ray breast 
To-poison it should grow, 

When Leil a qpgg with star s more bright ^\aJL 

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And fed it with their golden light 
Into the flower of love* 



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See, Lilly, even's purple hue 

Is faded on the deepening hours, 
And all the air is dripping dew 

In starry spangles on the flowers ; 
Then from the couch where all the day 

Thou hast been listlessly reclining, 
Arise and hie with me away 

Where brooklets flow and stars are shining, 

ii 

The bee folding his weary wings 

Sleeps till the skylark's merry warning, 
When from his lair he lightly springs 

To sip the honey dews of morning ; 
So to the song I sing to thee 

Rise, Lilly, from thy bed of flowers, 
And hie where thou may'st taste with me 

The dream-like joys of love's sweet hours, 



14 



THE LITTLE RIVALS. 



By a glassy brooklet sitting, 

Leila watched a sunny ray 
Over a lily wavelet flitting 

Like a little bird at play ; 
And all envious at the pleasure 

That its tiny glances gave, 
She cast a tearlet as a treasure 

To the happy little wave. 

ii. 

And the little wave a -blending 

With the tearlet as it fell, 
Said, " Pretty ones, go on contending 

If you love to please me well ; 
For long I envy daisy-cresses 

Their gay rings of light and dew, 
And thanks unto your sweet caresses 

I shall soon possess them too." 



^muh fart. 



17 



ODE III. 



Ah Flora, in the goblet pour 

The rosy-sparkling wine no more, 

And let the maiden lilies sigh 

O'er the bright waters till they die, 

For wine is sweet to quaff alone 

When joyful fancies are our own, 

And lilies only give delight 

When hearts are pure as they are bright. 

And so as neither may beguile 

My lips into a passing smile, 

Thy charms, though winsome as before 

Shall move my heart to love no more ; 

For burning glances, wanton fires, 

Soul-phrenzying dreams and young desires, 

That Passion once like blossoms shed 

Lie withered on my heart and dead. 

But whilst upon thy lap I lie 

Watching the legion stars on high, 

2 



x8 



Sing me a plaintive roundelay 
Of the time my heart was gay, 
That as my soul doth glide along 
The wakening glories of thy song 
The past may seem once more to live 
In the delight its memories give. 



i 9 



THE LITTLE ROSE. 



O'er a mazy streamlet growing, 
Nodding to the zephyrs blowing, 

A little rose hung like a gem, 
And glowing, panting to possess it, 
To enfold and to caress it, 

Leila plucked it from the stem. 

ii. 

Ah ! blushing, modest little flower, 
To know the bliss of such an hour 

It were sweetness e'en to die ; 
Thou soon wilt have all Leila's kisses, 
And in her bosom's soft abysses 

Like a little babe wilt lie ! 



ABSENCE ! 



The wakened skylark blithely springs 

O'er the glimmering wake of night, 
And gaily mounting, sweetly rings 

His wild notes through the blushing light ; 
Yet oh ! how other ears may greet 

Those wild notes, let them die on mine, 
For how find other voices sweet 

When I must never list to thine ? 

ii. 

Full sweetly o'er the heather blow 

Spring's fairy cowslips on the air, 
And brightly on their bosoms glow 

The pearl that morn hath scattered there. 
Yet what to me the sparkling gem, 

The winsome floweret on the lea, 
If whilst my eyes are bent on them 

My heart is far away with thee ? 



A SONG TO MY LADY. 



Like sapphires through the dewy even 

Gleam the stars along the skies, 
Yet no star in all the heaven 
But doth pale before thy eyes. 
Since I then ne'er 
May hope to wear 
Jewels, love, so pure and bright, 
To the break of day, 
Sweet, let me play, 
Like a firefly in their dreamy light. 

The lily, like a snowy blossom, 

Dallies o'er the crystal rill ; 
Yet lilies o'er thy wavy bosom 
Dally, love, more snowy still. 

Since I never 

Then may gather 
Flowers of so gay a bloom,. 

Love, let me sigh 

Away, and die 
Like a zephyr in their sweet perfume. 



22 



LEILA. 



Ah, sweet ! how long shall we sigh 
In this sad dearth of love, 

Drooping like flowers that die 
For the bright dews above ? 

II. 

Life's a weed on a bleak shore 
That comes up at dawn, 

But when the day is o'er 
? Tis blasted and gone. 

in. 

Like the bee then before us, 
To the flower whilst we may, 

Lest when night darkens o'er us 
It be withered away. 



23 



LEILA'S LIPS. 



Oh, were I but the wanton air 
That o'er the lips of Leila blows, 

I'd banquet on the perfume there 
Till I grew sweeter than a rose ! 



Yet oh, were I a little bee, 

Those lips I'd love still doubly true, 
For with the breath they gave to me 

I would have all their honey too. 



Vpxb fart. 



27 



THE ROSEBUD AND THE DAISY. 



In the dim light of the morn 
I saw a rosebud on a thorn 
Sighing through its leafy shell 
For the dews it loved so well ; 
But the beams of the rising day- 
Soon began to peel away 
Its leaves so blithely, that when I 
Passed it again at even by, 
A rose in full- flown beauty there 
It blew on the moonlit air. 

n. 

By a brooklet's grassy side 
A little daisy I espied, 
Calling most sorrowfully 
On the sunbeams passing by, 
To uplift the roof-like shade 
That the weeds o'er it had made. 



28 

But no sunbeam far or near 
Taking pity at its tear, 
It grew faint and faint, until 
It fell helpless on the rill, 
Where pining piteously it lay 
Till it wept its life away. 

in. 

So when youthful hopes and dreams 

Brighten in love's happy beams, 

All their noblest fancies spring 

Into beauteous blossoming, 

At their season to unclose 

In the glories of the rose ; 

But when glimmering in despair 

Through the dreary ways of care, 

Endlessly and bitterly 

Love's expanding beams they sigh, 

Like the little daisy, they 

Wither soon and die away. 



2 9 



A SUMMER SONG. 



Oh come, sweet, to the bower with me, 
Where love now dreamily reposes, 

And there, sweet, I will make for thee 
A bed of hyacinths and roses. 



ii. 



Lilies and daffodils shall stand 

Like maids of honour there before thee, 
And, at the zephyr's light command, 

Shall breathe their sweetest kisses o'er thee ; 



in. 



And blossoms whiter far than snow, 
Starring the roof of that gay bower, 

Shall dripple down on thee below, 
Like morning dew-drops on the flower. 



3° 



IV. 



And therewith I will mingle, too, 
Pansies and lilacs without number ; 

And daisies pied and violets blue 

I'll scatter o'er thee whilst thou slumber. 



3 1 



ODE IV. 



A little sunbeam that did play 
O'er the bright waters all the day, 
Warned by a firefly's fitful glow 
That her hour had come to go, 
Called her kin to kiss good-night, 
When all began to weep outright, 
And, holding to her glistening hem, 
Begged her not to go from them. 
" Pretty ripple ts," then said she, 
" Weep not so, nor pine for me, 
Since Leila will leave her bower soon, 
And in the wake of the rising moon, 
Will come to these bright banks to lave 
Her tresses in your glassy wave, 
When you may gather from her eye 
Light to last you till you die." 



32 



A WINTER SONG. 



Oh, love, clear away the bright tear, 

Like a snow-flake now dimming thine eye, 

For the seasons that make up the year 
Are not like our own when they die : 



ir. 



So, how dark and how lowering the day, 
The hope in my breast is still bright, 

For winter will soon pass, and May 

Bring back leaves and sweet songs of delight. 



33 



LEILA'S GRACES. 



i. 



The golden beam of morning tips 
Daffodillies sheathed in gold, 

And, as at lovers' meeting lips, 
Their honey dells unfold. 



ii. 

The skylark, climbing in delight 

The rosy sky above, 
Weaves round her ambery flakes of light, 

Gay notes of joy and love. 

in. 

And blithely, too, the wakening bee 
Now spreads his sparkling sails 

To skim day's sapphire-glimmering sea 
Before the flowery gales. 

3 



34 



IV. 



Yet summer songs or insect dyes, 
The brightest flowers that shine, 

How sweet to others' ears and eyes, 
Have lost their joys for mine : 



v. 



For, since my Leila's charms did blaze 

On me in all their pride, 
My ravished eyes, alas ! can gaze 

On nothing fair beside ; 



VI. 



And, from the morning I did hear 

Her warble to the spring, 
No lay, how sweet, can touch my ear 

Than that which she doth sing. 



35 



ODE V.* 



Little Zephyrs, bring to me, 
From wild tare and greenwood tree, 
The rich incense that the spring 
Hath sown in their blossoming, 
That, as idly I recline 
On the low-pressed eglantine, 
And feel it mingle dreamily 
With soul-trancing reverie, 
My rapt phantasies may seem 
To play in a rosy steam 
Of kisses that my angel love 
Showers on me from above. 
For my fancy like a sun 
Shines e'er on my lovely one, 
Where she mystically dwells 
'Midst the starry asphodels, 

* In this, as in several other poems, the author has indulged 
in a few false rhymes, as in his own opinion, when properly- 
introduced, they improve rather than impair the melody of 
vejrse. 



36 

In the sempiternal spheres, 
High o'er this sad world of tears ; 
And so I pray piteously 
Death may soon come unto me, 
That from a low worm of earth 
I may spring into the birth 
Of some new and lovely thing 
With fire-glancing eye and wing, 
And the joyous lot to rove 
A twin-spirit with my love, 
Happily, eternally, 
The pure realms of the sky. 



37 



ILLUSIONS PERDUES. 



The hot burning tears fall down from my eyes 

Like flakes of wasting fire, 
And on my withering cheek youth's flower lies 

As on a funeral pyre. 



ii. 



My soul it is all begrimmed with the soot 

Of baffled hopes that burn, 
And soon the heart that gave them leaf and root 

Will be their tomb and urn. 



38 



ODE VI. 



Love, ere the dewy matin glows 
The blush will vanish from the rose, 
The goblet brimming brightly o'er 
Our lips shall drain unto the core : 
Yet oh though tarrying years should fly 
Like breathless hours that hurry by, 
They ne'er shall steal in their decay 
One blossom from that heart away 
In which thy love enshrined doth dwell 
Like honey in its golden cell. 
Then wipe away the heavy tear 
That folds thine eye in shades so drear, 
For evening stars now crossed in love 
Shed tears so freely from above, 
The brimming streams would overflow 
With the fresh tributes of thy woe ; 
But whilst I cull from yon green briar 
Those roses blown like coals of fire, 
And round the ruby-sparkling wine 
A sweetly- steaming garland twine, 



39 

From thy white bosom draw aside 
The screen that mantles all its pride, 
And then o'er all the panting charms 
Where love doth seek his fatal arms, 
From beryl flask and philter pour 
The lucent myrrh and liquid ore 
Of India's sweetest flowers till 
You breathe a living daffodil ; 
For now, sweet, in the glimmering ray 
That Cynthia sheds upon our way, 
We hail the signal of the hour 
That we are wont to seek the bower, 
Where the ambrosial dew we sip 
From sparkling bowl and rosy lip, 
And the e'er winsome roundelay 
Of zephyrs lithe and waters gay 
Shall waft our weary senses on 
Through heavenly oblivion 
Unto a starry isle that gleams 
In the chrysolite sea of dreams. 



4 



SYMPATHY. 



Still let the lily blossoms 

Dally on the stem, 
In the light of the dew-beams 

Morning showers on them ; 
I need not seek the summer's bloom 

To deck thy burial, 
Since the tears my eye in sympathy 

Sheds at thy doom 
Are the loveliest flowers I may strew 

Upon thy tomb. 

I saw thee in the pomp of lordly power 

But yesterday, 
And now like an untimely-stricken flower 

Thou art withered away ; 
Yet a poor sparrow let me linger still 

Upon the limb 
Where late thy glories like young roses hung ; 
And if my voice hath not the gladsome trill 

The swallow sung 

So sweetly there, 
At least I will not fly from it like him 

Now that it is bare. 



4i 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 



As the sun of the gay spring-time 

Shone bright o'er my bed of holly, 

I said to my weary spirit, 

" Since we have dwelt long in dreamland 

And the bright elixir found not 

We sought through her weird region, 

Let us take the happy vantage 

Of the sun-beam and the spring-time 

To resume the doleful travel 

That all endlessly we tarried 

In the valley of the shadow." 

So from that soft bed of holly 

I rose with my weary sister, 

And into the golden sunlight — 

Golden sunlight of the springtime — 

We passed like two filmy spectres 

The o'erhasty beam of morning 

Locked out of their home in dreamland. 

And we wandered o'er the meadows, 

Beauteous meadows that did glisten 

With many a blazing hailstone, 

As the gods in high Olympus 



42 THE VISION OF DEATH. 

Banqueting on living fire, 
Cast in kindliness and bounty 
The crumbs of their fiery banquet 
To the hungry grass and flowers 
That the lately barren meadows 
Now bore to the merry springtime. 
And as on we journeyed slowly, 
From the primrose and the daisy 
And the pansy and the tulip 
And every nameless blossom 
Blowing o'er the fairy waters 
Sprang numberless golden insects, 
Sparkling through the sunny ether 
As the little stars would glitter 
From the bright empyrean riven 
And with fiery plumes and pinions 
Set to flutter and to glitter 
Through the dreamy haze of even. 
And as from a sky of music 
Joyous notes upon our senses 
Fell, as fall the summer dew-drops 
On the summer's snowy blossoms ; 
Yet, unlike those grateful blossoms, 
We gladdened not nor brightened 
In the sweet notes that the heavens 
On our dreary senses showered ; 
For of melody all listless 
Through the sunshine still we wandered 






THE VISION OF DEATH. 43 

To a forest drear and sombre 
To a drear and sombre forest 
In the glimmer of the distance, 
Where the lark or lintwhite never 
Bore the spirit of their rapture, 
Nor the silver-winged insects 
Sparkled 'mid the snowy blossoms, 
'Mid the snowy blossoms lithesome, 
In the glory of the springtime. 
And when unto that sombre, 
To that drear and sombre forest, 
I came with my sister-spirit, 
From the bosom of a shadow 
Sprang a bright and mystic lady ; 
Like a meteor from the midnight 
Sprang that bright and mystic lady, 
And the shadows of the forest, 
Of that drear and sombre forest, 
Into hazy twilight glimmered 
'Neath the weird and radiant splendour 
Gleaming round the radiant presence, 
Round the weird and radiant presence 
Of that bright and mystic lady. 
And as with my sister spirit 
I stood rapt in fear and wonder 
At the splendour of the vision, 
Through glimmering haze unto me 
Came that bright and mystic lady, 



44 THE VISION OF DEATH. 

And as the chord of the cithern 
Warbles into airy music 
At the sweeping of the finger, 
From her tongue fell liquid numbers, 
Numbers soft and sweet as honey, 
As a- melting into pity 
She all tenderly did ask me, 
"Why so young and fair a pilgrim 
From the bright and sunny meadows 
Wandered to that sombre forest 
Where the sunbeams never glistened, 
Never glistened through the blossoms, 
Through the blossoms that the branches 
Bear unto the merry springtime." 
And I said unto her, " Lady, 
From the day that sovereign reason 
Through the portal of my spirit 
Like to crystal sunshine peering, 
Nursed into flower-like being 
Wholesome thoughts and golden fancies, 
Swarms of cares like greedy insects 
Prey upon their dainty substance, 
Killing in the hopeful blossom 
The sweet fruits of coming beauty ; 
Therefore, lady, I have wandered, 
Wandered with my phantom-sister, 
Through the golden spring of Passion, 
Over many a sunny meadow 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 45 

In the vale of youth and folly ; 
And no maiden e ? er in springtime 
Wove so many beauteous flowers 
Into garland for her lover 
As of pleasures I have gathered, 
Gathered with my phantom-sister, 
For a solace to our anguish ; 
Yet all purposelessly, lady, 
For though like heavenly nectar 
Are the ruddy drops that sparkle 
In the reeling cup of pleasure, 
Far too few are they to sweeten 
E'en the bitter thoughts that ripple 
O'er the mighty depths of misery 
Spreading sealike through the bosom. 
And so longtime go we seeking 
For a palace drear and sombre, 
For a drear and sombre palace, 
Where the sweet bride of my longing, 
On a throne of ebon sitting, 
Calls upon her love to hasten 
From this drear and joyless valley 
To the glory and the splendour 
And the rapture of her nuptial ; 
For they tell me in her palace 
I shall no more long to wander, 
Since I shall find in her kisses 
That sweet cordial to affliction 



46 THE VISION OF DEATH. 

I have sought so long and vainly 

In the ways of light and beauty 

Through the valley of existence ; 

And so, lady, lovely lady, 

Tell me whither, only whither, 

I may find that happy palace, 

And all the love in my bosom 

Will I give thee as a flower 

To regale with honey-perfume 

The faint sweetness of thy fancies, 

When their tender blossoms wither 

In the day of death and sorrow." 

As when zephyrs skim the heaven 

Of the cream-like mists of morning, 

All the ether beams with gladness, 

With the gladness of the sunshine, 

So the visage of that lady 

With the light of rapture glistened, 

Glistened through the shade of pity 

Through the shade of pity melting 

At the words which I had spoken ; 

And unto her bosom panting, 

Panting with the throes of passion, 

She clasped me in eager fervour, 

And ? mid kisses that did shimmer 

Through her words like summer sunbeams 

Through the bright drops of the shower, 

She unfolded all the rapture 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 47 

Thrilling her fond heart to welcome 

The young bridegroom of her longing 

To the revel and the splendour 

And the glory of her nuptial. 

" Oh ! why in my sombre palace 

Did I wander lone and cheerless, 

Like a poor hind seeking pasture 

Through the barren wilds of winter ? 

Why among my tender maidens 

Did I wander like a shadow,. 

Like a dark and misty shadow, 

'Mid the sunbeams of the springtime ? 

Oh ! it was my youthful bridegroom 

Tarried in the sombre valley 

Far from the light and gladness 

Nestling ever in my bosom : 

But now, in my happy palace, 

For all years unto the judgment 

Shall I still in joyous wassail 

The hunger of unfed desires, 

And so make me meet amendment 

For the dole of empty fancies 

Through the chaste days of my longing." 

So she spoke ; and once more kisses 

From her rosy lips a-falling 

Thick as snow-flakes in the winter, 

Soon began to crimson over 

My cheeks, mortal in their pallor, 



48 THE VISION OF DEATH. 

With a purple layer of sweetness ; 
And I know not what of pleasure 
Came upon me that my senses 
Melted like light vapours into 
The sweet radiance of its essence ; 
But when reason, like the morning, 
Dawned in glory on my spirit, 
Still I found me by that lady 
Where she pointed, dimly smiling, 
To a tomb before me looming ; 
" And behold," said she, " the palace, 
The all-drear and sombre palace 
Where we are to spend together 
The sweet honeymoon of ages." 
And with all my thoughts a-feasting 
On her words, as bees in summer 
Feast on drops of lily-nectar, 
I hastened through the gloomy distance 
With a step so free and lithesome, 
That full soon before the palace 
I stood with my phantom-sister, 
With my phantom-sister weeping 
As in bygone days of sorrow. 
And I said unto her, " Dearest, 
Wherefore shed these bitter tear-drops 
At the moment, blessed moment, 
That the portal of the palace 
We have sought so long in anguish 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 49 

Opens kindly to our welcome ?" 
And she said, " Good brother, enter, 
Enter into this dim palace, 
Where a beauteous bride awaits thee, 
To make thee benign atonement 
For the fretful sighs and crossings 
Thou hast borne of my impatience 
In the drear and joyless valley ; 
Yet oh ! weep not so, nor sorrow, 
For the day the Great Archangel 
Crying through the startled heaven 
Shall call thee, wrapt in nuptial blisses, 
From this palace to Armaddgeon, 
Thou shalt find me at this portal, 
Like one of those starry lilies 
Ever luminously shining 
Over Gilead's crystal waters, 
And entrancing in my glory, 
Thou shalt breathe me in distraction 
Through thy lips into thy bosom, 
That all lucent and transparent 
Shall grow like a vase of crystal 
When the sparkling flame at even 
In its empty womb is litten. 
And thus linked in happy presence, 
We shall neither cross the other 
Through opposite and vain desire 
In this sombre vault to linger 



5° THE VISION OF DEATH. 

Or to fly away to heaven ; 
For our hearts shall beat in unison 
To the joyous notes of angels, 
As on harps of heavenly rapture 
They shall sing the Consummation 
That doth end the night of sorrow 
And begin the day of glory." 
Oh ! albeit I loved my sister, 
And wept at this our primal parting 
Since the day we met in anguish ; 
Yet all willing, at her bidding, 
Through the drear and sombre portal 
In full joy of heart I hastened 
With the bright and mystic lady 
That from the first kiss of phrenzy 
Had not ceased o' kindly wooing. 
And as into that dim palace 
We were come, in winsome accents 
She did call unto her maidens : 
And as little sleeping perfumes 
Answer to the merry greeting 
That the zephyr sings unto them, 
Through each gloomy portal gaily 
Tripped those light and airy maidens 
At the sweet call of their lady, 
And around me blithely beating 
Like the white froth of the billows 
Round the lonely rock in ocean 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 5 1 

They did sing to me in welcome 
Songs so gladsome, Orpheus even 
Might have stilled his lyre to listen. 
Yet in this gay choir and festal 
One I marked that did not mingle, 
But apart stood as in reverie ; 
And I said unto my lady, 
" Lady, who might be yon maiden 
That doth join not in my welcome ? ,J 
And she said unto me, " Dearest, 
Well I see thy ravished senses 
Witness only through thy fancy, 
For no maiden in my palace 
But now carols in thy welcome 
Like a siren when at even 
On the rueful waters sitting 
She doth lure the careless pilgrim 
To the isle of sad repentance ; 
But come now unto the bower 
Where still sweeter scenes of pleasure 
Shall acclaim the love I cherish 
For my young and happy bridegroom." 
So she spoke, and with her maidens 
Hurried through a gloomy portal, 
Whilst like a kid that doth follow 
The flock without knowing whither 
I moved in their happy traces 
Till I came unto a bower 



5 2 THE VISION OF DEATH. 

Where it shone among the lilies 
Like the mystic star of morning 
'Mid the white mists of the valleys. 
And within it there did glitter 
A bright table sparkling over 
With many a costly viand, 
And as a flock of spring sparrows 
Settle on the furrows snowy 
With the white flakes of the harvest, 
So fell we in joyous concert 
At the bidding of our lady 
To the dainties of that banquet ; 
And through many luscious hours 
Till the daylight dimly flickered 
Through the trellis of the bower, 
Rose our songs as if to mingle 
Their lithe spirits in the sweetness 
Circling o'er the purple nectar. 
But when bright and golden fire-flies, 
Sparkling through the drowsy twilight, 
Hailed anigh the star of even, 
Then those tender maidens, blushing 
With the wine, like mists that colour 
In the scarlet beams of morning, 
Rose up from the pleasing banquet, 
And like merry doves did hasten 
To their covert in the woodland. 
Then that bright and weird lady, 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 53 

Folding me into her bosom, 
Thus in silvery notes did utter — 
" Oh ! behold at length the hour 
I have wept so oft in spirit 
On my widowed bed at even ; 
Yet, love, as my thoughts were bitter 
In thine absence, be they gladsome 
In the rapture of thy presence, 
For thou art to me more lovely 
Than all I have known or languished 
In the fairy realms of fancy, 
Since from thy lips I may gather 
Roses that shall never wither 
In the chill breath of the autumn • 
Whilst upon thy welcome bosom 
I may loll in sweeter slumber 
Than at even on the lilies. 
Yet, dearest, this blissful slumber 
Let me leave to hours that weary 
With the painting of thy kisses, 
For I leave thee now in waiting 
Till, bedecked for love and pleasure, 
I may come to thee in beauty 
So excelling, that for ever 
Thou shalt bless the happy moment 
That, my graces only yearning, 
Thou didst scorn the loveliest maidens 
Flowering life's ecstatic valley." 



54 THE VISION OF DEATH. 

So she said, and like a meteor 

Vanished through the sombre stillness ; 

But her memory behind her, 

She did leave me as a plaything 

To beguile my lonely hours 

Till, in duty to her promise, 

She should come again unto me. 

And upon a bed of daisies 

Sat I fondling in my fancy 

All the words that she had spoken ; 

But o'er all upon the graces 

She did herald to my pleasure 

I hung with such love and longing, 

That when gliding through the portal 

I beheld her, from those daisies 

Springing, in ecstatic fervour 

I did clasp her to my bosom. 

Yet full brief my joy, for sudden 

Through my veins an icy thrilling 

Shivered, and in fearful wonder 

Looking up, saw not my lady, 

As desired or fondly fancied, 

But the weird and beauteous maiden 

That, apart from all her kindred, 

Joined not in my primal greeting. 

And as when the eye in summer 

O'er the meadow vainly wanders, 

Where to signal wanting flowers, 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 55 

O'er her body I could nowhere 

Turn my vision, but it dallied 

In a peerless waste of beauties. 

And I said unto her, " Maiden, 

If thou be some radiant phantom, 

Like a mist upon my fancy, 

By the light of joy begotten, 

Shine thus ever, that the future 

May not sue of recollection 

Tinsel beams of light and beauty ; 

But if thou in precious being 

Art as now unto my vision 

In the lovely charm of semblance, 

Tell me, maiden, beauteous maiden, 

Why into this sombre palace 

Thou art come from happier regions ; 

For by many trusty tokens 

I confess thou dost not number 

With the vestals of my lady " 

" Thy lady, thine ? But ah, thus ever," 
She replied, " this sombre demon 
Into my fair Eden gliding, 
Robs me of my brightest flowers. 
Though by the dear life I cherish, 
Thy love she shall never ravish 
From its home within my bosom ; 
For when first I saw thee lolling 
In the dream of infant slumber, 



5 6 THE VISION OF DEATH. 

Passion moved my heart towards thee, 
And though till that hour unwistful 
What the scorn of man or favour, 
Thence I sought in me to garner 
All the grace of love and beauty, 
That in the heart's budding season 
Thou might' st find me not unequal 
To the sweet grace of thy favour ; 
So then fly this fearful spectre 
That* hath lured thee to this palace 
For a brief and woful dalliance, 
Since that when she shall have stolen 
Love's last precious drop of honey 
From the young heart in thy bosom 
She will leave thee to her maidens, 
That to worms unsightly changing, 
On thy tender flesh shall riot 
Till thy bones grow lean and barren 
As the leafless boughs of winter, 
Whilst in the delight I promise 
Thou shalt find no guile to waken 
Thy woes from their present slumber, 
For when thou art sad in spirit 
Thou may'st wanton to thy pleasure 
In these beauties that thy vision 
Now may value as they tremble 
Through this light gauze like to jewels 
Through the dazzling haze of even. 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 57 

First thy lips like bees shall gather 

The sweet falling myrrh and honey 

From the lilies and the roses 

That love's never-dying summer 

Over me in bounty showers, 

Or like a swan thou shalt dally 

'Mid the billows of my bosom, 

As they rock with the heart's zephyrs 

To the music of the number 

That our mingling loves shall carol. 

Believe me, dearest, as a flower 

That all outward fair and lovely 

Shows forth still more precious value 

In nectarine taste and perfume 

When 'tis pressed into the bosom. 

See, my arms are soft and mellow, 

With desires trembling ever 

Like two lilies fanned by zephyrs ; 

Whilst as a hive is my body, 

That overflows with love and pleasunce 

I have garnered there like honey 

From the blossom of those hours 

Thou all bitterly didst tarry 

In the drear and sombre valley. 

Then, love, hasten, lightly hasten 

From this tomb unto the palace, 

To the bright and happy palace 

In the valley of existence, 



5& THE VISION OF DEATH. 

Where the revel of my beauty 

Shall be thy eternal dower." 

And I said unto her, " Maiden, 

Well of olden days thou know'st 

My poor heart a sorry bulwark 

To the fiery charge of passion ; 

Yet as a child flies the bramble 

Where he tears his finger seeking 

The sweet grape or tender blossom, 

I now turn awry of pleasures 

I have never loved or gathered 

But among the thorns of sorrow. 

On thy forehead I see shining 

In bright characters and golden, 

' Vita Sum,' the faithless maiden 

That in tender youth did guile me 

With so many luscious kisses 

To the drear and joyless valley, 

When into a fury turning 

Thou didst plait a scourge of vipers, 

And whipped me from flowery vistas 

Over wastes of thorn and briars ; 

And when oft with torture fainting 

I did lay me down to perish, 

Baring thy infected bosom, 

And thy withered arms expanding, 

Thou with mocking smiles would'st welcome 



THE VISION OF DEATH. 59 

My sad soul to blissful dalliance 

In the pale of light and beauty. 

Yet think not in joyous triumph 

I command those hapless memories 

To the dread seat of thy conscience, 

But to give in proof how endless 

Be thy wiles to woo my spirit 

Ever more unto thy fancy, 

For in the arms of my lady 

With unyielding will I dally 

Till the sounding of the ' Trumpet ' 

For what the woes thou dost threaten 

My love, I shall find them sweeter 

Than all the joys thou canst promise." 

And her bosom wildly heaving, 

And her eye with phrenzy flashing, 

Thus in turn she spoke unto me : 

" Longtime, caitiff, in my palace 

I divined with grateless favour 

Thou didst answer to my bounty ; 

Yet that curse or judgment never 

Might feel the sting of repentance, 

Through the bright lure of this vision 

I have sought in happy measure 

To surprise the guilty treason 

In thy heart suspected only. 

Thus, since thou dost scorn the pleasures 



60 THE VISION OF DEATH. 

I all kindly did design thee, 
Look for solace in the curses 
That like fiery fangs shall lash thee 
Even to the bourne of vengeance 
Through the valley of the shadow." 






6i 



TO PSYCHE. 



The little stars like glowworms bright 
Now glimmer through the shades of nighty 

Whilst before our eyes 

Flitting fireflies 
Guide us like torches to delight. 

it 
The day hath drawn her weary lid 
Over the sultry star we chid, 

And now we may 

Trip and play, 
To all but love and rapture hid. 

4 

Yet I'll not lead thee where the vine 
Clasps love-like the faint jessamine, 

Nor to the rill 

Whose silvery trill 
Melts my soul as its voice were thine. 



62 



IV. 



Fond hearts that meet and lips that kiss 
Have made bowers there scenes of bliss 

And gay delight 

Full many a night ; 
But other joys shall sweeten this. 

The poet's dream is far more sweet 
Than the lays of brooklets at our feet, 

Or the mingling fire 

Of wild desire 
In lone and flowery retreat. 

H 

Then to its joy, love, whilst we may, 
For the night will soon be day, 

And that heavenly dream 

Doth scarcely beam 
Upon the soul than it dies away. 



^ 



SONG TO FLORA. 



The skylark carols on the air 
The twinkling dews like glowworms shine, 
Peace, light, and joy are everywhere 
Save in this aching heart of mine ; 
And / can grieve ? Could'st thou behold 
These eyes that ebb and flow for thee, 
Thou would'st not say my heart was cold, 
Nor fly thus e'er from love and me. 

ii. 

I am so blest when thou art near, 
True I am lost to all but bliss, 
What should my eye do with a tear 
When on thy lip there hangs a kiss ? 
Yet, sweet, think not a joyous hour 
Be in thy beauty all I woo, 
As I could only love the flower 
Because it hath a golden hue : 



6 4 

III. 

For loves now on my weary sight 
Shine thick as stars along the skies, 
Whilst rosy smiles and glances bright 
lay siege unto my heart and eyes ; 
Yet by their winsome sweets I rove 
Unmindful as a careless bee, 
For 'mong so many flowers of love 
I miss the one most dear to me. 



65 



ODE VII. 



As through the new- wakening dawn 

I hied o'er the glassy lawn, 

By a crystal streamlet's side 

A sweet maiden I espied 

Dreaming like a dew-drop bright 

On the flowers she pressed so light. 

Dewy roses showered by 

Blushes of the richest dye, 

Tender violets at my feet 

Breathed forth incense soft and sweet, 

Yet from roses brightly glowing 

And violets so sweetly blowing, 

I turned to her lips that did shine 

Like two lilies dint in wine, a jL^ 

And bendkig-gSntly ebwn to sip ^ VyvcJ^AaU'vw **&•**) 

The bright cordial they did drip, 

Love who artfully had made 

There a tempting ambuscade, 

5 



66 



And now waited prim and sly 

Until I came passing by, 

Sprung blithe upward as a bee 

Springs from a breeze-kissed lily, 

And aiming a fire foftj&arkd dart — j^QJVU\ W 

Lodged it in my hapless heart, 

Whence my life-blood from that day 

Slowly, sadly ebbs away. 




6 7 



TO LEILA. 



Ah, Leila, if the primrose wear 
The summer's golden hue, 

It breathes upon the wanton air 
The summer's fragrance too. 

ii. 

And if the dew-drop on the thorn 

Glow brightly in the ray, 
It melts like incense on the morn, 

And cools the burning day. 

in. 

Then, sweet, oh why that crimson dye 
That tints thy cheeks so fair, 

If whilst it tempt the wistful eye 
It bid the lip forbear ? 



68 



IV. 



Oh why that eye so dazzling bright 
Stars fly from it in shame, 

If whilst we wanton in its light 
We perish in its flame ? 



6 9 



ODE VIII. 



I have lived, sweet, unto now 
Like a blossom on the bough 
That the autumn's chilling air 
Lays else desolate and bare. 
Fondling friends, like zephyrs gay, 
Feast on my sweets all the day, 
Yet in grateless turn deny 
All for which my heart doth sigh, 
As my means that go amiss 
Were the ransom of their bliss. 
Yet I shall no more lament 
Goods or love untimely spent, 
For I feel that misery 
Hath laid life-long hold on me, 
Since unfaithful stars design 
Me a servant of the Nine 
Who for the very ecstasies 
That lift low senses to the skies, 



7° 

See their bodies, which should be 
Bowers of felicity, 
Turned into dank prisons, where, 
Through the close bars of despair, 
They may look forth sadly on 
Beauty's sweetly smiling sun 
Gladden with its heavenly glow 
Everything except their woe. 



V 



A MAID'S SORROW. 



Ah ! full often I hied in the moon's watery gleam 

To yon cliff o'er the sea, 
And the joy of my soul was to sit there and dream 

He was dying for me. 



ii. 



And I smiled at his woe when his eye like a flower 

With the heart's dew was dim, 
But now I seek vainly for his tomb, where one hour 

I may weep over him. 



in. 



For as in joy at his tears my tears I did strew 

O'er the foam of the wave, 
I would mingle them now like a heavenly dew 

With the grass on his grave. 



\ 



gowttig fart. 



75 



I FUGITIVI * 



On a day, in merry purpose, 
I resolved to write the antics 
Of a frolic wight of Venice ; * 
And with such a zeal I hurried 
Through the quips of his adventure, 
That my trifling task was ended 
Ere I might have sung to Leila 
In a score of happy lyrics 
The sweet story of my passion. 
Then into the world I sent it, 
And " so be it," answered only 
To forewarned and righteous ruin, 
For I knew it a rank fancy 
Of o'er-hasty growth and blossom. 
But unduly mighty Nunez, f 
Didst thou meet with equal judgment, 

* A one-canto heroi-comic poem in " Ottava rima" which, 
although a mere exercise in versification, the author was so un- 
wise as to publish some two years since. 

t Vasco de Balboa. A Tragedy. 



7 6 

For albeit in vain impatience 
I did launch thee ere thy season 
Into the deep sea of venture, 
Thou dost treasure stores of jewels 
In their value all excelling, 
Since old Chios or sweet Avon ! 



77 



FRAGMENTS. 



But man hath in blood 

Washed his hands as in water, 
Whilst his drink is the flood 

He hath sweetened with slaughter ; 
The clouds that have risen 

From the strife on the plain 
Return back from heaven 

In hot drops of red rain 
Whilst valleys and hills glisten 

With their strata of slain. 

First the lightning doth shatter 

The oak that it cleaves, 
Then the wild wind doth scatter 

Afar its dead leaves ; 
Oh why to fate are our years 

Bound like leaves to that tree, 
That we must bear with her fears 

In every threat and decree, 
And yet have sorrows and tears 

For our lot when set free ? 



78 



REMEMBRANCE, 

(a fragment.) 



— — " And by the silver waters rose a bower 

With minarets of myrtle \ there the gales 

Unload the stores they gather from the spring 

Between the hours that Aurora tints 

The grey meridian and evening stars 

Empearl the lilies ; and as their soft breath 

Involves the senses, on the vacant ear 

Steal the light echoes of many a song 

Ecstatic, that the grateful woodland choir 

Sing to the wanderer honouring their green dells. 

"And here," I murmured, " in this beauteous bower, 

Let me repose, until my weary strength 

Renew, and I with lighter soul may strive 

To find my lost way through this mazy wood." 

Saying, towards that flowery haunt I moved 

With step so forward I had soon passed o'er 

The portal, when as some malignant power 

Had wedged my firm feet in the solid earth, 



REMEMBRANCE. 79 

I suddenly stood motionless and stiff, 
With every active pulse and noble sense 
Bound sweetly captive to my ravished eyes ; 
For upward wildly from the nestling sward, 
At my encounter, like a lintwhite sprang 
A maid so peerless that I well might dream 
Myself amid the fairy days of old, 
Where by enchanted grove or lily stream 
The qye of mortals might undazzled view 
The^glanes of heaven ; and around the bow6r 
In hasty terror, like a tender roe 
Seeking vain egress through the trellised snare 
She hurried ; when, composing her alarm, 
I drew close to her, and thus gently spoke : 
" O think not, lovely one, in fell design 
I break thus on the charm of thy repose, 
Since chance alone led me into this grove 
Where now bewildered I seek vainly, through 
Many a tiresome tributary path, 
The highway to the village whence I come. 
If I may know thee then by this same staff 
For mistress of yon snowy flock of sheep, 
With thy experience well may'st thou correct 
The errors of my way, and so approve 
In my departure, peace of soul once more." 
As the young rose bends to the swaying breeze, 
Her head gracefully at my words inclined, 
And when from the bright heaven of her cheek 



80 REMEMBRANCE. 

The first discolouring cloud of maiden shame 
Dissolved, thus amiably she made reply : 
" Yea, seigneur, well in truth I know this wood, 
Yet that from here I can but ill design 
A certain path through issues so confused 
And labyrinthine, I myself will be 
Thy guide to lead thee forth, if so thou wilt." 
Saying, unto a bough she hooked her staff, 
And pressing through the fragrant portal turned 
Half-face towards me, and in mellow tone 
Bade me to follow ; " Yea, sweet, unto death," 
I sought to murmur, but the loving words 
Swift-mounting fear surprised upon my lips, 
Where in confused and blasted utterance 
They hung fluttering like to withered leaves 
On autumn branches ; so I bowed assent 
For all compliance to her gracious will, 
And followed where she led me, by a way 
Through groves of laurel : and from time to time 
Some thorny reed occurring, I did mark 
Her caution, lest recoiling it should smite 
With woful spring my undefended cheek. 
Then in my spirit I did bless her as 
Of gentle heart ; for we may ever know 
The true soul by those little deeds of love 
That it puts forth unconsciously like flowers. 
And therefore taking of her silent fear 
Bounteous occasion, with attentive eye 



REMEMBRANCE. 8 1 

I now sought to explore at vantage all 

The mysteries that adorned her precious form. 

First I admired her locks that richly fell 

In sapphire clusters, then the mellow charms 

That o'er her snowy neck and bosom shone 

Like lily blossoms ; and in such delight 

The beauteous vision did involve my soul 

And fancy, that soon faultless to subdue 

Intemperate yearning, to my thrilling heart 

I clasped her trembling, whilst upon her cheeks 

My kisses showered like crystalline dews 

On beds of roses. She did cry me " nay." 

And strove for freedom, only moving so 

Me, fearful to part with so much delight, 

To more passionate hold, and I may not say 

Whither in the wild phrenzy of my flame 

Love had compelled me, but that from the copse 

A shepherd issuing, called aloud to her 

Reproachful, when I loosed my burning hold, 

And slow retiring like an angry wolf, 

Cast malign glances at the ruthless hind 

That drove me from so sweet a prey of love." 



82 



TO FLORA. 



When spring-time showered blossoms bright 

As thick as stars on every tree 
How gaily in the morning's light 

We tripped along the dewy lea, 
Singing the songs the lark had sung 

As he rose blithely o'er the wheat, 
And gathering daisies where they sprung 

In snowy dalliance at our feet. 

n. 

How lightly too when lips of flame 

Had drained the flowers of all their wine 
We followed lintwhites till we came 

To a myrrh-like bower of eglantine, 
And breathing spices that the air 

Stole from the balmy dells before us, 
Sank in delightful slumber there 

To the sweet notes of music o'er us. 



33 



in. 
And how sweet at the close of day 

When clouds seemed all on fire above 
To wander hand in hand away 

From that bright haunt of youth and love, 
And by a streamlet's crystal maze 

To watch the wake of the setting sun 
Till through the even's purple haze 

The small stars peeped forth one by one. 

IV. 

But now where lintwhites sang their hymns 

The fitful blast of winter moans, 
And leaves drop from their withered limbs 

Like flesh that falls from dead men's bones, 
And we as thriftless bees no more 

Shall steal the sweets of sunny hours, 
Nor race the swallow's shadow o'er 

Glassy seas of light and flowers, 
v. 
But still, love, o y er the silvery isles 

That shine like stars through Scio's clime 
Spring basks in all the rosy smiles 

That mark the glory of her prime, 
For ever there we may behold 

Bees sparkle o'er the lily's cell, 

And morning weave her web of gold 

Around the flowers we love so well. 
* * * * 



Jifi| |p art 



87 



ANTIOPE. 



Beneath a sycomore tree 

I lie down to-night 
Whilst the dews fall on me 

Like to crystals of light. 

ii. 
Yet though one be for each star 

That shines overhead, 
They are outnumbered far 

By the tears that I shed. 



II. 
i. 

The hot stream that gushes 
From my eyes' scalding flood, 

Burning through my cheeks' blushes, 
Mingles fire with their blood. 



88 ANTIOPE. 



II. 

For my words to the maiden, 
On the heart's echoes borne, 

Come back to me laden 
With the freight of her scorn. 



III. 

Even, long-expected even 
Hath but newly come from heaven, 
Bringing peace to everything 
Save my rueful sorrowing. 



Ah ! the heart in my bosom 
Like a disconsolate blossom 
Pines away and dies 
For the light of her eyes, 
For the light of her crystalline eyes. 



Dost thou know 
Where my true love lies? 

On a bed of lilies 
In a^land where violets grow; 

Ask no more — 
For more thou must not know ! 



ANTIOPE. 89 

IV. 

When I first beheld my love 

Sleeping in the silver grove, 

I did raise the filmy lid 

That her secret bosom hid, 

And then murmured, " Springtime ne'er 

Bore flowers so bright and fair 

As the hyacinths that blow 

O'er this panting lapse of snow." 



When morn lifts her fleecy veil 

From shorn hill and flowery dale, 

The lark rising on the air 

Sings so blithe and sweetly there 

Antiopa mastered quite 

With the soul of his delight 

Bends her white knee down upon 

Primrose and dandelion, 

And with lips like warbling springs 

Humbly prays for silvery wings 

That through morning's wastes of blue 

She may fly and carol too. 

Guileless as the mist that plays 

O'er the brooklet's glassy maze 



90 ANTIOPE. 

Dulcet as the breath that blows 

From snow-flower or tuberose 

Are the pleasing words that she 

Wafts in prayer from earth to me. 

But as oft in bitter pain 

I have plead her love in vain, 

So in turn, though with a sigh 

This sweet boon I must deny, 

Since else, she would seek no more 

The sea's shell-enamelled shore 

Or the fairy-haunted groves 

Where with wood-nymphs now she roves, 

But a-soaring far away 

Beyond the bright glimpse of day 

Would hide ever from my sight 

In the starry realms of night. 



VI. 

Bravely I o'erthew the Titans 
When on mountains piling mountains 
They sought to scale high Olympus ; 
How then doth a feeble maiden 

Vanquish him, 
That foiled in battle mighty giants ? 



ANTIOPE. 

When Danae 

Loved me 
I did not weep nor groan ; 

Ah that I 

Could only die 
And go where she hath gone ! 



VII. 



i. 

In a silvery car lit by sapphire and star 

I rode o'er the sea of the night, 
Dividing the grey billowy clouds on my way 

Into furrows of amber and light. 

II. 

And men as they passed on the earth stood aghast 
At the marvel the heavens did unfold, 

For I seemed to the eye as it turned up on high 
Like a pillar of jacinth and gold. 



Ah lightly o'er the glassy wold 

I seek the lily dell, 
For there at last I shall behold 

The maid I love so well. 



92 ANTIOPE. 

VIII. 

The thrush stilling now his lay 
To the greenwood flies away 
Where in his mate's welcome nest 
He shall sink to happy rest \ 
But ah ! when I find my love 
In the mazes of this grove 
I shall freely taste of bliss 
Twenty-fold more sweet than his. 



In the morning, sweet, 

Come to me \ 
In the morning, sweet, 

Woo me. 
In the morning, sweet, flowers 

Shine with dew ; 
In the morning, sweet, young hearts 

Love true. 



IX. 

As the orient sky put on 
The flush livery of dawn, 
I sought my own Danae 
Over grassy hill and lea. 



ANTIOPE. 93 

I blew the loud horn 

From shining hills, 
And played the sweet lyre 

O'er flowery rills. 



X. 

Full often, sweet, at fall of night 

I've warbled in thy ear 
Those songs of beauty and delight 

That now thou wilt not hear. 



XI. 

Ah ! love wert thou slumbering in far distant bowers 

To the light -mingling carol of zephyr and rill, 
That thou heard'st not the lyre as it breathed o ? er the 
flowers, 
Nor the air-thrilling trumpet as it spoke from the 
hill? 

i. 

No, no, she was singing 

By waters running clear 
A rondel to the flowers 
The young and blushing hours 

Newly bore to the year. 



94 ANTIOPE. 

II. 

How then with her fancies 
All involved in that lay, 
Could she hear the sad sighing 
Of those that were dying 
For her far away ? 



XII. 



i. 
Here the bounteous summer flings 
Crystal beads and diamond rings 
To all flowers that delight 
O'er green fields or waters bright. 

ii. 
So now wanton as I may 
Through the dazzling wake of day, 
Everywhere I seem to see 
The bright eyes of Danae 



XIII. 

Truly, roses glisten bright 
In the summer's golden light, 
Yet when kneeling as in prayer 
I would breathe the love I bear 



ANTIOPE. 95 

Unto them, they grow cold and deaf 
To the story of my grief. 
Yet I scarcely sigh above 
The fond name of her I love 
Than in wild delight she springs 
From her primrose bed, and sings 
Notes of such sweet welcome, I 
Almost with their echoes die. 



XIV. 

Coming a crystal flood 
In the bosom of the wood 
A sweet naiad I espied 
Bathing in its limpid tide, 
And asking of Danae, 
Thus she made reply to me 
" As thy love at break of day 
Tripped her light and airy way 
To yon bower of pleasunce, one 
That did issue from the sun 
Rapt her from my dazzled eyes 
To his home within the skies." 



XV. 

i. 

Vanish despair, 
Sorrow and care, 
Fancies light and joyous be, 



9^ ANTIOPE. 

For now I 
Know where my 
Sweet love sits and pines for me. 

11. 

Thoughts in my soul 

Toll, gladly toll 
Sorrow's deep and solemn knell, 

For now I 

Swiftly fly 
To my lovely lady's cell. 



XVI. 



Swiftly and lightly 

I fly through the skies, 
Seeking the tower 

Where Danae sighs. 
11. 
Ah languish, my own love, 

No longer for me, 
Ere the first star of evening 

I shall be with thee. 



XVII. 
1. 
When to the sun I came, I did ubpraid 
In sorry terms the jocund god of day 



ANTIOPE. 97 

That suited ill himself to win a maid 

He needs must steal that of his sire away. 
ii. 
Then great Apollo, pitying the tear 

He beheld silvering my anxious eye, 
A moment stayed his coursers' swift career, 

And thus in welcome turn did make reply : 
in. 
" Down father, hasten from this burning tower 

To yon drear prison frowning o'er the sea, 
And there, with cunning equal to thy power, 

Thou shalt regain thy ravished Danae !" 



XVIII. 

Son, receive a loving kiss 
For the words which thou hast spoken, 

Since they heal a loving heart 
I had thought for ever broken ! 



XIX. 

Long I wandered through the wood 
In downcast and weary mood, 
Waiting for the happy hour 
I might steal into the tower, 
Since a guard in armed guise, 
Everywhere I turned my eyes, 
Now revealed a living key 
That could not be turned by me. 



98 ANTIOPE. 

XX. 

But with the fall of the night 

Changing to a vapour bright, 

I rose lightly on the air, 

As to kiss the moonbeams there 

Yet in wary wile to see 

Where my prisoned love might be ; 

Soon, to my fond heart's delight, 

I beheld a flickering light, 

And there flying through the pores 

Of stone walls and brazen doors, 

I all stealthily did glide 

Into the hall where my bride 

Lay shedding the abundant tear 

For her Thyrsis, now so near. 



XXI. 



As a-brightening like a sun 
Through that dreary hall I shone, 
Danae sprang from the bed 
Where she lay almost naked, 
And, wantoning in my light, 
Like a little cloud of white, 
Sang a pretty roundelay 
For her Thyrsis far away. 



ANTIOPE. 99 

XXIL 

i. 
Ah ! Antiope, ungentle maiden, 

Dost thou hear the tale I tell ? 
And, perchance, would'st thou know further 
What befell ? 

ii. 

Ah ! then know unto thy sorrow 

Never may the rest be told, 

Until I shall prove more forward 

Or thou less cold ! 



XXIII. 

" Pretty, light, and nimble ewes 
Skipping o'er the crystal dews, 
Your soft coats of fleece and snow 
In the morning's silver show, 
Purer than the spotless flowers 
Blooming o'er Diana's bowers, 
Or the waters of the stream 
As they ripple into cream." 



XXIV. 

But whilst Thyrsis thus did sing 
To his flocks a- gamboling, 



IOO ANTIOPE. 



Pretty Phillis down the vale 
Came a-tripping with a pail 
Love had sent her forth to fill 
With pure crystal from the rill. 



XXV. 

And when coming something nigh 
The choice shallow of her eye 
She unconsciously laid bare 
Charms so snowy, soft, and fair, 
That the shepherd turned in hate 
From the flocks he loved so late, 
And in tender accents swore 
He would love her evermore. 



XXVI. 

On soft flowers Coron lay 
Singing to the dying day 
Carols the delighted air 
Bore so sweetly everywhere, 
That a beauteous naiad rose 
O'er a streamlet's bubbling snows, 
And in numbers Cupid's ear 
Doth alone from Psyche hear 
Begged him to receive her heart 
iVs a tribute to his art. 



ANTIOPE. IOI 



XXVII. 



Thus youth doth woo and love ever, 
And until the present never 
Have I known a maiden prove 
So averse and strange to love. 

ii. 

Well, I own that for awhile 
Sighs might only make her smile, 
Yet when tears bedimmed the eye 
She would grow kind, and comply. 



XXVIII. 



My numbers they warble 
Like music that's rolled 

In crystalline mazes 
O'er pebbles of gold. 

ii. 

Yet whilst my love listens 
In joy to their strain 

She smiles to the zephyrs 
That echo my pain. 



102 ANTIOPE. 



XXIX. 

I will give thee the stars 

Of the evening skies 
And every bright jewel 

That glittering lies 
In the sea's amber shells ; 
I will deck thee with blossoms 

That grow on the vine, 
And crown thee with lilies 

That luminously shine 
Through the sky's glassy dells, 



XXX. 

I have seen Psyche as she lay 
On the vestal flowers of May, 
Decked in all the rosy wiles 
That lure Cupid to her smiles ; 
Yet, sweet, I would rather be 
The poor daisy trod by thee 
Than Love as he sinks to rest 
On the lilies of her breast 



XXXI. 

I. 
I will bear my own love far away 
To some star-circled realm on high 



ANTIOPE. IC3 

Where the night never frowns on the day, 
And flowers once born never die. 

n. 

I will gather daffodillies that shine 

Like to sunbeams o'er clear waters there, 

And a wreath of the brightest I'll twine 
To set on the brow of my fair. 

in. 
Like a rose on a silvery stem 

My love shall sit high on a throne, 
And her eyes they shall light on no gem 

But one whisper shall make it her own. 



XXXII. 



I. 

For the songs that I sing 
She hath no ears ; 

For the sigh that I heave 
No tears. 

11. 
When I would beg a kiss, 

She denies me ; 
When I would seek her love, 

She flies me. 



104 ANTIOPE. 

XXXIII. 

Ah ! sad to brook the proud disdain 

That lights those beauteous eyes of thine, 

Yet sweeter far to feel the pain 

Than be where they no longer shine. 



XXXIV. 



I. 

Methought as late upon the green 
I lay in even's mild serene 
The crystal ether named so bright 
The sun fled like a star from sight, 
Whilst seraphs chanting all in choir 
Bore me away on wings of fire 
Unto a sphere that glitters far 
Beyond the faintest twinkling star. 

ii. 
" I know this some Elysian dream — 
And all that now so fair doth seem 
Shall melt like idle mist away 
Before the morn's awakening ray." 
And then my eyes began to glow 
With gems more bright than shone below, 
For life I loathed — and after this 
How could I turn to it in bliss ? 



ANTIOPE. 105 

III. 

I scarce had said, when through the air 
A voice thus hailed me wandering there, 
" Know I have borne the mighty one 
Unto the kingdom of the sun 
That thou a season may'st repose 
Amidst its pleasures, from thy woes.' 

IV. 

I heard no more, but turning on 
The glories that around me shone, 
I travelled with so wild a pace 
The wastes of intervening space 
I sported soon once more beside 
The grove where Antiope doth 'bide ; 



XXXV. 



I. 
Thus, love, like a swallow 

When autumn is nigh, 
I fled from the pleasures 

That lured me on high ; 

ii. 
For, sweet, like dead flowers 

Are pleasures to me 
That far from thy presence 

I share not with thee. 



106 ANTIOPE. 



XXXVI. 

Echoes alone 
Answer the moan 

I make unto her ; 
Never did maiden prove 
So coy to love 

When a god did woo her ! 



XXXVII. 



I. 
I have looked on 

Naiads' play 
Through the waters 

All the day ; 

ii. 
But when night stole 

O'er the deep, 
Growing listless 

They would weep. 



XXXVIII. 



I. 
For gazing on the bright stars above 

They grew sick at the light of the foam, 
And sighing for some spirit to love 

They wept to make Heaven their home. 



ANTIOPE. 107 

II. 

Oh the stars and the heavens on high 
Shall obey some sweet maid of the sea, 

For their sovereign and ruler am I, 
And she shall be both unto me ! 



j&ttffc anfr last fart. 



Ill 



NAIAD'S SONG. 



A naiad below 

In a star's crystal glow 
Rapt like a child in its own dream beguiled 

Sweetly sung, " The bright tide 

Like a beam I'll divide 
To yon beauteous spangle above ; 

For oh, when I wear 

In my glittering hair 
A jewel that ocean nor earth can compare, 

How winsome and gay 

As I wanton and play 
Through the palace of shells in the sea's coral dells, 

Shall I seem, shall I seem 

To the lord of the stream, 

Who among all the daughters 

That sport through the waters 
The maidens of earth or the peris above, 

Hath chosen alone 

Happy ./Enone, 
To lighten his slumbers with beauty and lovef 



112 



LINDOR TO ANTHEA. 



i. 

Though sad the hour that we must part, 
No tear of mine shall show 'tis nigh ; 

Whate'er thy havoc in my heart, 
Thou shalt not see it in my eye. 

ii. 

That I have loved thee e'er to-day 
I've sighed in kisses o'er and o'er, 

But strange as oft forgot to say 
That I did love myself far more. 



IT 3 

FABLES. 



THE THREE KINGS. 



Jn the days of old the sheep resolved to elect a king, 
and as they wished to live at peace with all the world 
their choice fell on a young and innocent lamb. 
Foreign enemies, however, soon presuming on the 
meekness of the royal temper, the elders of the flock 
deposed their new king, and offered his crown to 
the wolf. The wolf indeed protected them from 
all foes, yet the disquieting presence at court of his 
numerous brothers and cousins, together with op- 
pressive taxation and severity of rule in general, 
compelled the flock ere long to decide on another 
change of dynasty. So they deposed their second 
king as they had done the first, and called the dog 
to the throne ; and the dog was terrible to his ene- 
mies like the wolf, and gentle to his subjects like 
the lamb, — so that his reign was in peace and justice ; 
and though many ages have passed since his election, 
he still wears the crown he then received. 



ii 4 



THE DEPOSIT. 



A wolf eagerly pursued by a farmer he had robbed 
knocked in his trouble at the door of old Banker Fox, 
and on his appearing, asked him if, for the interest of 
a couple of joints, he would hide his booty till he 
made good his escape. 

" Oh yes, let me have it," answered Reynard, " and 
I will hide it so well, the owner '11 never find it — nor 
you either." 



IN THOSE DAYS. 



i. 
In those days the grace of the Spirit had left me, 
and I grew faint as one that loses blood through a 
wound. Love burned no more in my bosom, and hope 
flickered in my heart as in a socket 

ii. 

And I said, Are eyes but for weeping ? and must we 
only sigh with the heart? or suffering must we bear with 
affliction for ever ? Behold, I walk among the malignant, 
and they laugh whilst I mourn ; but I will rise up and 
go into the tabernacle ; I shall eat of the bread of 
consolation, and drink of the waters of peace. 



END OF VARIA. 



n6 



THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ASS ! 



In a spring-bower with roses hung 

A nightingale so sweetly sung 

That all who chanced to pass that way 

Did stop to hear and praise her lay. 

An ass howe'er to envy stirred 

At all the compliments he heard, 

Said, " Let us see what I can do 

To hear myself commended too." 

Saying, as he would imitate 

The song that ravished all so late, 

He sent a-shivering down the hill 

A sound so zigzag and so shrill 

The startled world thought Michael's blast 

Had come to wake the dead at last. 

But he, as glorying in a feat 

The finest songster never beat, 

Turning, thus with a happy smile 

Hailed neighbour cow across the stile : 

" Now frankly, widow, do I fail, 

Or succeed as a nightingale ? " 



ii 7 

Ah, laugh not if poor Jack would seem 
Something o'er-bumped with self-esteem, 
For many men are known to me 
Less clever and more vain than he. 



Tl8 



Four lustres of my life are gone 
And the better part of one, 
May all that are still to be 
Prove more happy unto me. 

" War is the word," and through the earth 
Men marvelled, whilst a weird past 
Revolved upon me — for I knew 
Things history shall never seal 
On graven memories of brass or stone ! 



IT 9 



DESPAIR. 



i. 

The dew on the blossom 
Now glowing so bright 

In the morn it will vanish 
Like a dream of delight. 

ii. 

But many a bright morning 
Will languish and die 

Ere the tear-drop is gone 
That now glows in my eye. 



I20 



" DANTE AT VERONA." * 



As I read the verse 

That doth rehearse 
Our Allighieri's woes, 

It seemed as I 

But recently 
Had woke from centuries of repose 
Only to study o'er 

Days of despair 
When I the sorrows bore 

That now I bear. 



* The title of a poem by Mr. Rossetti. 



121 



SONG. 



Oh let the purple nectar flow 

Until it fill the bowl ; 
One sparkle of its dazzling glow 
Fires me to the soul, 
And in my sight 
Shines more bright 
Than the light of Leila's eyes, 
Winsome light of Leila's eyes, 
That comes only 

With the day 
And with evening 
Dies away ! 



I 22 



SONNET. 



There lilacs to the dallying zephyrs blew 

Like sapphires when through Vesper's haze they show, 

Whilst flowers that shone as dipt in morning's hue 

Strewed all the meadow with an emerald glow ; 

'Midst these my lady sported like a bee, 

Singing the while melodies soft and sweet, 

And now some tender lilac rifled she, 

Now took some violet prisoner at her feet ; 

And as I looked upon her mild employ 

I longed to be a little flower in bloom, 

For though death were the wages of my joy 

In her white bosom I would find my tomb ; 

And who 'midst so much sweetness to repose 

Would dare less than a violet or rose ? 



123 



EVENING. 



Now from the heaven's glistening cheek 
The golden blush of day is fled, 

And Vesper through yon deepening streak 
Gleams like a taper o'er the dead. 

ii. 
The linnet's carol now is still, 

And in the bower the thrush is mute ; 
All, all his hushed, save where the rill 

Sings o'er its pebbles like a lute. 



124 



A FRAGMENT. 



And when my lady neared in thoughtless guile 

The spot where 'mongst the daffodils I lay, 
Her soft lips parting with a sunny smile, 

Thus she did seem unto herself to say : 
" Here then in fairy dreams I may beguile 

The weary hours of the lingering day, 
And Philomel with melting notes of pain 
Shall waken me unto the chase again." 

± * ■* * * 

She said, and plucking from her brow a crown, 
Negligently threw it by the silver bow, 

Unclasped her bracelet and a lily gown 
From members loosed of palpitating snow : 

So that at last when like a fairy down 

She laid her on the crimson flowers below 

It seemed as she had hastened to prepare 

For a bath rather than for slumber there. 



125 



" And now," quoth I, " since in this bland retreat 
I have found her for whom my heart doth sigh, 

I'll study over every panting sweet 

That she hath hid so often from my eye ; 

So that if I must evermore entreat, 
And she in turn as wilfully deny, 

I may in fancy look for comfort on 

The reflex of her beauty for the sun." 



126 



TO ANTHEA. 



Now the crystalline even rains 
O'er summer flowers starry grains 
That in the silvery glow of night 
Will ripen into gems of light. 

Now roses shining o'er the flood 

Like stars that have been dipped in blood 

Allure the softly blowing air 

Unto the fragrant stores they bear. 



127 



SONNET, 



Then quoth I to her, I will prove like thee, 
And fly thy love as thou dost fly from mine; 
Since thou hast sown thy scorn like seed in me, 
Its bitter blossom now shall all be thine ! 
So when thou dost seek in the happy morn 
The tears I shed for thee all through the night, 
Cold glassy dew-drops on the leafless thorn 
Will answer only to thy longed delight ; 
Thus like a baffled toiler that doth find 
A tinsel semblance of the prize he sought 
Thou shalt weep in the anguish of thy mind 
At all thy golden dreams that fall to nought, 
And hold too late of more than primal cost 
The precious pearl thou hast for ever lost. 



128 



LEILA. 



As the day was breaking 

I saw my love lave 
Her soft snowy members 

In the stream's glassy wave. 

ii. 
And from that sad hour 

A prey to despair, 
I sigh and I languish 

That she is so fair. 



129 



A NYMPH'S SONG. 



Whilst I wanton in this bower, 

Thinking if my love be true, 
Let its snow-white blossoms shower 
Over me like drops of dew, 

That awhile 

I may beguile 
My fancy into dreaming they 

Are the kisses 

Sweet Narcissis 
Will give to me at break of day. 



THE END. 




L 



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